Daytime sleepiness during Ramadan intermittent fasting: polysomnographic and quantitative waking EEG study

During the lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset. We reported previously that Ramadan provokes a shortening in nocturnal total sleep time by 40 min, an increase in sleep latency, and a decrease in slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration during Ramadan. During the same study, the effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on daytime sleepiness were also investigated in eight healthy young male subjects using a quantitative waking electroencephalograph (EEG) analysis following the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) procedure. This procedure was combined with subjective alertness and mood ratings and was conducted during four successive experimental sessions: (1) baseline (BL) 15 days before Ramadan, (2) beginning of Ramadan (R11) on the 11th day of Ramadan, (3) end of Ramadan (R25) on the 25th day of Ramadan, (4) recovery 2 weeks after Ramadan (AR). During each session, four 20-min nap opportunities (MSLTs) were given at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 h and were preceded by rectal temperature readings. Nocturnal sleep was recorded before each daytime session. Subjective daytime alertness did not change in R25 but decreased in R11 at 12:00 h, and subjective mood decreased at 16:00 h, both in R11 and R25. During the MSLT, mean sleep latency decreased by an average of 2 min in R11 (especially at 10:00 and 16:00 h) and 6 min in R25 (especially at 10:00 and 12:00 h) compared with BL. There was an increase in the daily mean of waking EEG absolute power in the theta (5.5-8.5 Hz) frequency band. Significant correlations were found between sleep latency during the MSLT and the waking EEG absolute power of the fast alpha (10.5-12.5 Hz), sigma (11.5-15.5 Hz) and beta (12.5-30 Hz) frequency bands. Sleep latency was also related to rectal temperature. In conclusion, Ramadan diurnal fasting induced an increase in subjective and objective daytime sleepiness associated with changes in diurnal rectal temperature.     

Genetic characterization of L-Zagreb mumps vaccine strain

Eleven mumps vaccine strains, all containing live attenuated virus, have been used throughout the world. Although L-Zagreb mumps vaccine has been licensed since 1972, only its partial nucleotide sequence was previously determined (accession numbers , and ). Therefore, we sequenced the entire genome of L-Zagreb vaccine strain (Institute of Immunology Inc., Zagreb, Croatia). In order to investigate the genetic stability of the vaccine, sequences of both L-Zagreb master seed and currently produced vaccine batch were determined and no difference between them was observed. A phylogenetic analysis based on SH gene sequence has shown that L-Zagreb strain does not belong to any of established mumps genotypes and that it is most similar to old, laboratory preserved European strains (1950s-1970s). L-Zagreb nucleotide and deduced protein sequences were compared with other mumps virus sequences obtained from the GenBank. Emphasis was put on functionally important protein regions and known antigenic epitopes. The extensive comparisons of nucleotide and deduced protein sequences between L-Zagreb vaccine strain and other previously determined mumps virus sequences have shown that while the functional regions of HN, V, and L proteins are well conserved among various mumps strains, there can be a substantial amino acid difference in antigenic epitopes of all proteins and in functional regions of F protein. No molecular pattern was identified that can be used as a distinction marker between virulent and attenuated strains.     

Impact of sertraline on weight,waist circumference and glycemic control: A prospective clinical trial on depressive diabetic type 2 patients

Aim

Depression is prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes. It may have a negative impact on the management of diabetes mellitus and could affect weight. The main aim of the investigation was to evaluate the effect of antidepressant treatment (sertraline) on anthropometric variables and glycemic control in depressed type 2 diabetic patients.

Detection and characterisation of extended-spectrum and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase produced by Escherichia coli isolates found at poultry farms in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) hydrolyse extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) and aztreonam. As ESBL-producing organisms have been identified in food producing animals, the aim of our study was to detect and analyse such Escherichia coli isolates from poultry. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined with disk-diffusion and broth microdilution methods. ESBLs were detected with the double-disk synergy and inhibitor-based test with clavulanic acid. The transferability of cefotaxime resistance was determined with conjugation experiments, and genes encoding ESBLs, plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases, and quinolone resistance determinants identified by polymerase chain reaction. The study included 108 faecal samples (cloacal swabs) from 25 different poultry farms in the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of these, 75 (69.4 %) were positive for E. coli, of which 27 were resistant to cefotaxime, amoxicillin, cefazoline, and cefriaxone, and susceptible to imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, and amikacin. All 27 cefotaxime-resistant isolates were positive in double-disk synergy and combined disk tests. Eighteen isolates transferred cefotaxime resistance to E. coli recipient. Twenty-one isolates were positive for the bla_CTX-M-1 cluster genes and seven for bla_CTX-M-15. Fourteen were positive for the bla_TEM genes. The most frequent plasmid incompatibility group was IncFIB, whereas IncFIA and Inc HI1 were present in only a few isolates. Two different sequence types (STs) were identified: ST117 and ST155. The emergence of ESBL-producing E. coli in farm animals presents a public health threat, as they can colonise the intestine and cause infections in humans.KEY WORDS: antimicrobial resistance, chicken, CTX-M, ESBL, public health, ST117, ST155     

Standardization of Quality of Diagnoses,Interventions, and Outcomes (Q-DIO) Measurement Instrument for Use in Slovenia

PurposeTo describe the cross-cultural adaptation of the Quality of Diagnoses, Interventions and Outcomes (Q-DIO) Instrument into the Slovene language.MethodsBased on general international guidelines, a six-step process of localization to translate and adjust the instrument from English into the Slovene language was used. Content validity was quantified based on an agreement of eight experts. The instrument was tested using a sample of 140 nursing documentations from two Slovenian tertiary hospitals.Results26 of 29 items showed an excellent content validity index ranging from 0.857 to 1.000, and a modified kappa index above 0.856. The content validity indexes of the three remaining items adjusted based on experts’ comments were subsequently estimated at 1.000. Construct validity was significantly different between the two groups of documentations. The Cronbach coefficient for the whole questionnaire was 0.860. Cronbach’s alpha if item deleted reamins above 0.80 for all items. The criteria for the difficulty grades of items and discrimination validity were acceptably met for more than 75% of items.ConclusionBased on the results of the study, it may be concluded that Q-DIO is a reliable instrument for measuring the quality of nursing documentation. The deviations in the results of some items are due to poor nursing documentation quality, and indicate that nursing classifications have not yet been fully implemented into practice in the study setting. Additional testing of the instrument is recommended.     

NiO–Ba0.95Ca0.05Ce0.9Y0.1O3−δ as a Modified Anode Material Fabricated by the Tape Casting Method

The development of new chemically resistant anodes for protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) is urgently required to avoid the costly deep hydrogen purification method. Ba_0.95Ca_0.05Ce_0.9Y_0.1O_3−δ (5CBCY), which is more chemically resistant than BaCaCe_0.9Y_0.1O_3−δ, was here tested as a component of a composite NiO–5CBCY anode material. A preparation slurry comprising 5CBCY_, NiO, graphite, and an organic medium was tape cast, sintered and subjected to thermal treatment in 10 vol.% H₂ in Ar at 700 °C. Differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, quadrupole mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, the AC four-probe method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used for the investigation. The electrical conductivity of the Ni–5CBCY in H₂–Ar at 700 °C was 1.1 S/cm. In the same gas atmosphere but with an additional 5 vol.% CO₂, it was slightly lower, at 0.8 S/cm. The Ni–5CBCY cermet exhibited repeatable electrical conductivity values during Ni-to-NiO oxidation cycles and NiO-to-Ni reduction in the 5CBCY matrix, making it sufficient for preliminary testing in PCFCs.     

Technological Competency As Caring in Nursing: a Description,Analysis and Evaluation of The Theory

IntroductionWhen introducing and using technology in nursing, there is a danger that too much focus is placed on technology over caring for patients. The ‘Technological competency as caring in nursing’ theory can facilitate technology in caring, but the theory needs to be described, analysed and evaluated before it is used. The purpose of the literature review was to determine the possibility of applying the theory in education, research and practice, and whether the theory could be used to guide research into the use of electronic nursing record systems.MethodsA literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Google Books, and supplemented with manual searching using the keywords ‘Locsin’, ‘technology’, ‘caring’ and ‘nursing theory’. The criteria for inclusion were fully accessible articles and books in English on the relevant topics. The review process is shown in a PRISMA diagram. A hierarchy of evidence was used to evaluate the relative strength of the results. Pajnkihar’s model was used to describe, analyse and evaluate the theory.ResultsA total of 26 hits were included in the final analysis. The theory in question meets the criteria of clarity, simplicity and complexity, adequacy, importance and significance; it can be tested; and it is useful in patient care that employs technology.Discussion and conclusionThe theory is useful in nursing education, research and practice. The theory will be used to guide research on the perception of technological competency and care of internal medicine patients by nurses when using the electronic nursing record system in three Slovenian hospitals.